Sky events and astronomical calendar

Perseid Meteor Shower

The 2026 Perseid meteor shower peaks August 12–13 under a new moon, with up to 90 meteors an hour. Here's when to look up and the best dark-sky places to watch.

Total Solar Eclipse 2026: Iceland & Spain

Where to watch the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse: Iceland's Westfjords, northern Spain, plus a rare moonless Perseids meteor shower double-header.

Saturn at Opposition 2026

Saturn reaches opposition October 4, 2026, at magnitude 0.3 with rings tilted 7.5° south — naked-eye bright, and striking through even a small telescope.

Orionid Meteor Shower

Watch up to 20 meteors an hour during October's Orionid shower, born from Halley's Comet debris. Peak nights Oct 21-22, 2026, best viewed just before dawn.

Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonids peak November 17–18, 2026 with a modest 10–15 meteors an hour — not a repeat of 1833 or 1966's storms, but a solid, free show worth watching.

Geminid Meteor Shower

The 2026 Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13–14 under a waxing crescent moon, with up to 120 meteors an hour. Here's when to look up and where to watch.

Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2027

Quadrantid meteor shower 2027 peaks Jan 3-4 with a sharp ~6-hour window, ZHR up to 120, radiant in Boötes, parent asteroid 2003 EH1. Northern hemisphere best.

Annular Solar Eclipse 2027

An annular solar eclipse (ring of fire) crosses southern Chile, Argentina, and West Africa on February 6, 2027. Where to watch, and is it worth the trip.

Jupiter Opposition

Jupiter opposition happens roughly every 13 months, when the planet rises at sunset, outshines every star, and its four Galilean moons appear in binoculars.

Lyrid Meteor Shower

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 22–23, 2027, with bright, colorful meteors from Comet Thatcher. A waning gibbous moon cuts the count, so timing matters.

Texas Star Party

The Texas Star Party runs May 2-9, 2027 at Prude Ranch near Fort Davis, under Bortle 2 skies. Here's what to expect, from registration to the observing fields.

Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower 2027

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks May 5-6, 2027, under a new moon, delivering up to 60 meteors an hour and often the Southern Hemisphere's best annual show.

Grand Canyon Star Party

Grand Canyon Star Party 2027 runs May 29–June 5 on the South Rim: free ranger-led stargazing, telescope viewing, and night-sky talks, no registration needed.

Total Solar Eclipse 2027

A total solar eclipse crosses Spain, North Africa, and Egypt on August 2, 2027, with up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality near Luxor, longest until 2114.